Anterior cruciate injury

A knee injury involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The ACL runs diagonally across the front of the knee from the underside of the femur (the thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower leg).</P> NTER><IMG height=426 alt='Knee Joint illustration - Anterior cruciate ligament' src='http://images.medicinenet.com/images/ABAKNEE.GIF' width=354></CENTER> Females are seven times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than their males.

The reasons are complex.

In females the Q angle (for quadriceps) is greater and tends to pull the kneecap (patella) out to the side.

Women have looser knee joints.

Their hamstring muscles are generally weaker than their quadriceps, which adds stress to the joint.

When men jump they land on both legs with their knees bent, while women land with their knees in a straighter position, putting more stress on the knee joint.

Initial treatment includes ice and anti-inflammatory drugs.

The next phase is usually stretching, exercise and physical therapy to rebuild strength and regain motion.

The ACL does not heal on its own, but the surrounding knee muscles can be built up through exercise and physical therapy, a process that can take up to a year.

Severe ACL injuries, especially in younger patients, may be surgically repaired.

The surgery, usually done by arthroscopy, replaces the ACL with cadaver parts or the patient's hamstring or patella tendons.

Rehabilitation takes at least 6 months.